【Who knows, I might even let you have my child.】
At that, Roberta forgot all about Rupert outside the door.
Jealousy flashing across her face, she stepped up and clutched at Owen's sleeve, protesting under her breath.
【You're not allowed to sleep with her.】
The whole thing turned my stomach.
I lifted a hand and cut them off, refusing.
Because no matter what he offered this time, I wasn't going to swallow it again.
The moment the door opened, I laid it all bare in front of Rupert, every word of what had just happened.
Rupert's eyes blazed with fury, but Roberta was already a sobbing mess.
Even so, she threw herself into his arms with practiced ease and choked out:
【I only came today to light candles for Aunt, and Cousin Enya insisted on slandering me, said she'd teach me a lesson.】
【Maybe she still hates me for taking you from her back then, so she wants to tear us apart.】
Rupert didn't believe her right away. Instead he shoved her off and let out a cold laugh.
【Then what about what I just heard on the phone? Did I imagine that too?】
Before Roberta could answer, a figure moved to shield her.
【Rupert, this is my fault too. I've always covered for Enya, and I spoiled her into this.】
【She was sulking at me again today, so she faked a recording to lure you here, just to drive a wedge between you and your wife.】
Owen was a master of twisting words. Two flat sentences, and he'd smoothed the whole thing over.
I pointed at the rumpled mess on the bed, and the used protection littering the floor, and asked coldly:
【Then what about these? How do you talk your way out of these?】
Owen didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled me back into his arms and feigned affection.
【Enya, stop it. Aren't those from when you and I were just together?】
【Fine, throw your tantrum at me, but why drag Roberta into it?】
I pulled out of his arms on instinct and told Rupert not to believe their lies.
But one look at Roberta's tears, and Rupert softened.
He looked at me, his eyes wavering.
【I know Roberta's character better than anyone. She wouldn't betray me.】
【And your word alone doesn't prove anything.】
【Enya, do you have proof?】
His question stopped me cold.
I wanted to say there was a neighbor who could confirm every word.
But Owen held me locked against him and breathed a threat low enough for only the two of us to hear:
【If you want your father to live a few more years, shut your mouth.】
【Or that oxygen line of his might come loose one day. No one could say how.】
I shook with rage, and there was nothing I could do.
Dad was the only family I had left in this world. I didn't dare gamble his life on my pride.
And there's no reasoning with a man hell-bent on his own ruin.
If Rupert refused to believe me, nothing I said would change his mind.
In the end, under the weight of his accusing stare, I had no choice but to take the loss in silence.
【If you don't believe me, then I have nothing more to say.】
Seeing me back down, Roberta wept as though she'd suffered some terrible injustice, tears spilling without end.
Rupert coaxed her, and all the while shot me a venomous look.
Whatever faint guilt he'd once carried toward me vanished in that instant.
To win Roberta over completely, he didn't care who was watching. He spoke up for her outright:
【Enya, I used to feel I owed you.】
【But now I see, marrying Roberta instead was the best decision I ever made in my life.】
I opened my mouth to say something, then swallowed it back down.
Roberta pressed down the smugness in her eyes and put on a show of speaking up for me:
